“Good point, Mr. Carras. In that case, sure. Let’s go together.”
I feel like I won the lottery. “Great.” I pull my phone away from my ear and check the time, then return the phone to my ear. “Listen, I’ve got to go so I’m not late.”
“Good luck and thanks again.”
Forty minutes and a lot of traffic later, I arrive at the museum. The director sends me to the offices in the back. As I reach the hallway, a guy walks through the entrance, and I recognize him immediately from when Rainey brought him into the club. He has a preppy look with his blond hair and blue eyes. The arrogant tilt to his head is all his own.
“Adam,” I say.
“Lucas Carras?”
He’s been introduced to me before, but I play along. “Yes, that’s me.” I extend my hand for a shake, and he gives me the too-hard-trying-to-impress-me handshake that’s utterly ridiculous. He’s just pissed Rainey isn’t here and unsure of why she’s sendingme, a man, in her place.
He adjusts his jacket. “I’m not sure why Rainey can’t do her job herself, but let’s get moving.”
“She’s busy,” I tell him, because I know better than to antagonize him with what I really want to say:You’re an asshole and she doesn’t want to be near you.
He frowns and walks to a separate section of the museum where there are empty cases waiting to be filled. “This is where we’ll hold the exhibition. I already sent Rainey a floor plan, so if you’re happy with the room, we can call it a day.”
I raise my eyebrows. “I was told you’d walk me through which items will be placed where so I can get a feel for the actual presentation.”
“I’m supposed to believe a nightclub owner knows anything about museum exhibit layouts?” he asks in a haughty tone.
And I’ve had it. “Okay, look. I know you love giving Rainey a hard time because she turned down your proposal, and now you’re acting like an unprofessional ass since she opted not to bow to your lunch and meeting demands. But you can’t intimidate me, so don’t bother trying.”
“Is she sleeping with you?” He looks down his nose at me. “Because you know she’ll come running back to me eventually.”
I want to shake the guy and maybe put him through the wall. I tried to keep things professional, but he crossed a line. “I know she wants nothing to do with you. Now, I’m here to do a job and you’re going to show me around as planned.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but I step closer. “Or I can report to the museum director that I’m having an issue with his head curator.” I repeat the line Rainey told me worked to get him to back off.
“Fine.” He clenches his jaw and storms off, assuming I’ll follow. Which I do.
Apparently his job is important to him because we spend the next thirty minutes doing the walk-through and he’s a complete professional… if I ignore the scowl on his face.
After the last exhibit case discussion, I’m ready to be away from his attitude, his heavy cologne, and his company. “I’ll talk to Rainey, and I’m sure she’ll touch base.By phone,” I emphasize.
Turning, I take two steps when I hear, “She’s a real firecracker in bed, isn’t she?”
I pivot and take two steps toward him, ready to lift him by his shirt with one hand and punch him in the jaw with the other. But that would ruin Rainey’s business with the museum, so I clench my fists and breathe in slowly in an attempt to calm down.
“She didn’t know how to treat me the first time around, but when she comes crawling back, I’ll make sure she’s learned her lesson.”
His words resonate in my brain and I’m reminded of the brick through her window. Could Adam be behind the threats?
I meet his gaze with the stony glare I’d perfected when I was a pissed-off teen, one I rarely use anymore, but this son of a bitch deserves it. “Stay the fuck away from her.”
Before he can reply, I turn and walk away, refusing to give him another second of my time.
I don’t head back to the club right away. First, I call Rainey and update her about how the meeting went. I assure her all is well. No need to give her anything to worry about. Then, I give Tristan a call and ask him to meet me at the gym. I need to work off my anger from meeting with Rainey’s ex and talk through whether Adam could be responsible for the brick thrown through her window.
Later that afternoon, at the gym, I’m sweaty from warming up and ready to work out my frustrations.
Tristan takes hold of the punching bag while I begin some boxing combos. “So today with the ex didn’t go well?” he asks. I’d told him about my morning when I called him to meet me here. And he already knew about the brick at Rainey’s workplace.
“He was a pompous ass. But he also said something that’s bothering me about making sure Rainey learns her lesson.” I throw a one-two punch at the bag, pretending it’s Adam’s face.
“Do you think he’s behind the postcard and the brick?” Tristan asks.
